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Over the last twelve months, there has been a surge of AI-generated imagery, while some examples may be artistically noteworthy, many generative AI systems are scraping the web and utilizing the original work of creators as part of their training and thus creating generated facsimiles of images that use original work as a foundation. So, with this in mind, how can you prevent your work from being indexed by AI?
There are a number of key strategies that not only impede AI's efforts to replicate your work but also often thwart their attempts altogether. Let’s take a look at the steps you can take to prevent your images from being indexed by AI.
1. Block AI From Access To The Content On Websites
Generative AI platforms can access content on websites using web crawlers. Creators can deter these web crawlers through the use of robots.txt files. These files are uploaded to the backend of a website and provide instructions on what can and cannot be accessed by web crawlers. For more information, take a look at our step-by-step guide on how to use robots.txt.
2. Creators Can Exclude Images From Generative AI With The IPTC’s New Photo Metadata Standard
The International Press Telecommunications Council (IPTC) recently updated its Photo Metadata Standard to accommodate concerns from image rights owners who wish to prevent their work from being indexed by AI. Previously, these owners found their images being used without their consent as training data for generative AI creators. To remedy this, the IPTC, in collaboration with the PLUS Coalition, updated its metadata standard to version 2023.1, including a feature called 'Data Mining'.
With the inclusion of 'Data Mining', image rights owners can specify whether their images can be used for AI/Machine Learning purposes. The new feature includes a list of standardized values detailing whether an image can be used for such data mining. Importantly, these values are embedded directly into the image file to ensure the information stays intact, regardless of whether the image is moved or shared.
In addition to the preset values, the IPTC has also included an "Other Constraints" property, allowing for specific terms regarding data mining, such as permission exclusively for academic use. However, it is important to note that these prohibitions do not equate to granting permission for data mining. Regional legislation may overrule these specifications.
The IPTC has strongly encouraged all photo metadata software vendors to incorporate these new properties into their tools as soon as possible. The commendable first step towards this has been taken by ExifTool, a software tool popular among image creators for accessing and manipulating image file metadata.
The new IPTC Photo Metadata Standard version 2023.1 is now available on iptc.org, and the IPTC's 'Get Photo Metadata' tool and 'Photo Metadata Reference' images have been updated to reflect the new properties.
3. Safeguard your online sharing habits
Implement Watermarks
Many artists opt to apply watermarks to their work, as a standard they comprise their name, website, or a semi-transparent logo/text on their visuals. The intention behind this exercise is to ensure that any unauthorized usage retains a hint of the authentic creator and reminds potential thieves that the work is the sole copyright of the creator.
Historically, this approach has been fairly successful at preventing image theft. However, in the current technological landscape, there are AI tools with the capability to erase these indicated watermarks. An added disadvantage is that these marks could potentially spoil the viewing experience of human users due to their intrusive nature.
Low-Resolution Files
Upload low-resolution versions of your images on social media and portfolio websites. Such versions are less likely to appeal to AI training.
Platform Specific Privacy Setting
Review and apply the explicit opt-out options in the privacy settings of your social media account. These will limit how your data and images are used for AI training on the platforms you are sharing your content on, such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc…
4. Utilize a WordPress Plugin for Protection
If you manage a portfolio via WordPress there are a number of plugins you can utilize to ward off bots engaging in unlawful activities and using your work.
Take Kudurru for instance; it's an effective plugin that employs a cutting-edge network to detect and counteract AI scraper bots. The moment a bot is flagged, its IP address is promptly added to a block list. This guarantees that any subsequent incursions by the identified scraper bot are immediately thwarted by users of this plugin.
To add an extra layer of bot deterrence, Kudurru uniquely offers the option of sending back corrupted or deceptive images, effectively "poisoning" the data extracted by bots. Yet, the ultimate safeguard lies in the network's capability to swiftly and precisely acclimate to emerging AI scrapers.
5. Leverage Image Protection Software
To further protect their work from AI, image creators can take a more robust by leveraging image protection software such as Glaze or Nightshade. Born from a collaboration between tech aficionados and imaginative artists from the University of Chicago, Glaze is a groundbreaking art-protection platform. It's crafted with a clear comprehension of the stark differences between human and AI visualization.
This advanced software employs sophisticated algorithms to subtly modify artwork in a way that's undetectable to human viewers but bewilders AI systems, a technique termed "cloaking." Envision a lifelike painting that appears identical to us but presents as an incomprehensible mess to AI.
The team behind Glaze elucidates that an image "cloak" can effectively shield it from the style-poaching tendencies of various AI models including Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, and more. This unique feature is termed "transferability." While gauging performance across new or proprietary models can be challenging, we've meticulously verified our protection's efficacy against several AI models.
Aside from Glaze, the team has also spearheaded the development of another cutting-edge technology named Nightshade. It’s expertly engineered to "poison" scrapped data and generate false positives, effectively leading the AI astray when it attempts to identify an image.
6. Assert Your Legal Rights
Another step image creators can take to protect their work from AI is by asserting their legal rights. For instance, Getty Images recently filed a lawsuit against Stability AI, creators of open-source AI art generator Stable Diffusion, for allegedly copying over 12 million images from Getty's database without permission. Getty claims this constitutes a copyright and trademark infringement. This marks a new development in the legal battle between AI art generator creators and copyright-holders. Previously, Getty announced it was pursuing legal proceedings in the UK against Stability AI, who is also being sued in the US by three artists seeking a class action lawsuit. Legal experts believe Getty's case is stronger, but the unfamiliar legal terrain makes the outcome unpredictable. The main argument will revolve around the interpretation of the US fair use doctrine and the notion of "transformative use".
Pixsy stands ready to assist artists in monitoring their online image presence and acting decisively. We encourage artists to use our services, which offer an uncomplicated way to keep track of where and how your images are circulating online, along with practical tools to respond effectively when copyright breaches occur.
Protect Your Work With Pixsy
Monitoring where your work is used online is a crucial task in our increasingly digital world. The escalating sophistication of AI heightens the necessity to shield your images vigilantly from unwarranted indexing and potential misuse.
As creators, it's incumbent on you to safeguard your creative labor actively. Initiating proactive steps from today to preserve your ownership rights, while allowing your images to circulate safely, is critical.
Pixsy stands at the helm of image protection, offering a broad suite of services tailored to tackle these issues. Pixsy not only enables you to trace your images' online appearances but also equips you with powerful tools to curb image theft, unauthorized usage, and unwanted AI indexing.
We encourage every creator to delve into the extensive options Pixsy offers. Our committed services and cutting-edge solutions will bolster your control over your images, all while eradicating worries over unwanted AI indexing.
Don't hold off until your image is abused or indexed by AI without your permission. Act swiftly. Join us in the bid to shield your rights, protect hard work, and defend artistic spirit.
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